Court orders Palestinian lawmaker freed on bail

Khalida Jarrar — accused of inciting violence, membership in banned group — claims detention meant to silence her

By AP and ToI Staff 22 May 2015, 1:48 am

Edit

Senior Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) member Khalida Jarrar, sitting at the Ofer Military Court near Ramallah on May 21, 2015. (AP/Majdi Mohammed)

An Israeli military court has ruled that Palestinian legislator Khalida Jarrar should be released on bail, but has ordered her held for at least three more days while the prosecutor decides whether to appeal.

Jarrar, 52, was arrested by the army in her West Bank home on April 2. She has been charged with membership in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which is banned by Israel, and with inciting violence.

Jarrar told reporters at Thursday’s hearing that her detention was meant to silence her, but that “we will continue our struggle until we end this occupation.” Jarrar shuffled in leg shackles into the makeshift courtroom on an army base.

Her defense lawyer says the charges are politically motivated. Jarrar is the only woman among 16 Palestinian legislators currently held by Israel.

Following her arrest, MK Ahmad Tibi and other members of the Joint (Arab) List called for Jarrar’s release. “This is a political detention of an elected official who is opposed to the occupation,” MK Aida Touma-Sliman said. Israel “should be ashamed of the draconian regime of administrative detentions, which is unparalleled in any democracy.”